TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jun 17, 2005 2:15 pm

I have some pics in the gallery that show how to disassemble and re-boot an old Hurst. This was in reference to a related thread in the kit car forum that flew under the radar. Thought it would be helpful to people wanting to re-boot their old shifter or replace the reverse lockout cable.

Sat Jun 18, 2005 2:28 pm

THANKS! Now does anyone reproduce the wooden shifter knobs?

Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:34 pm

Germanpride wrote: THANKS! Now does anyone reproduce the wooden shifter knobs?

?

Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:33 pm

You could you this. Even made by flat4. :D

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C38%2DI%2D275

Sat Jul 02, 2005 11:21 am

I have an original Hurst shifter in my 77 Convertible. I did the same restoration to mine. I scrounged around the swapmeets and found an aftermarket shifter for $5.00 that had a good boot to use on my Hurst.

I didn't know that the wood knob was the stock knob, I found a black one at a swap meet for $2.00 and am using it. I guess to be original I'll put the wood knob back on.

Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:27 pm

My copper Hurst has a bakelite type black knob as well.

Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:27 pm

My copper Hurst came with a wooden knob, and my chrome one didn't have a knob. Was there a date change that they went from wood to bakelite, or vise-versa, and when did the change from copper to chrome go? So many variables, also, the bent and straight Hursts too. If anyone has any literature or ads showing these, and the dates, It'd be interesting to see.

Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 pm

Bruce seems to be pretty up on the ins and outs of the Hursts, he even has a right hand drive one he posted a pic of somewhere. Judging from Dave's pics they came with both type knobs...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104281&highlight=

Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:41 pm

The copper Hurst shifters all came with a wood knob. The threaded insert comes loose pretty easy, so many of them were replaced with a black bake-o-lite knob. The chrome shifters all came with a black knob.

There never was a change from chrome to copper or vise versa. The chrome one started in the 60s and was made up until the early 80s. The copper one was a special edition in around 71-72.

Originally, Hurst made the curved shifters for 67 and earlier cars. The straight shifter is for 68 and up. However, all the shifters work on all cars. The curved one even works well on 73 and later cars with the shifter moved back. The knob comes within about an inch of the e-brake button when in 2nd and e-brake up.

I have seen more chrome curved Hurst shifters than copper ones. But I have seen more copper straight shifters than chrome straight shifters. In fact, I have never seen a straight chrome shifter. (simon uk, got a pic?)

Now to add to the confusion is this shifter:

The one on the left is about 1½" taller than a standard curved Hurst. It is a satin silver colour, not chromed. I have never seen any literature on this shifter.

Here's an ad:

Sat Jul 09, 2005 11:40 pm

Thanks Bruce!

Bruce wrote:
I have seen more chrome curved Hurst shifters than copper ones. But I have seen more copper straight shifters than chrome straight shifters. In fact, I have never seen a straight chrome shifter.

I've got a straight chrome Hurst I pulled out of a junkyard bug recently. I'll try to remember to get a pic up for you.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:36 pm

Germanpride wrote: Thanks Bruce!

Bruce wrote:
I have seen more chrome curved Hurst shifters than copper ones. But I have seen more copper straight shifters than chrome straight shifters. In fact, I have never seen a straight chrome shifter.

I've got a straight chrome Hurst I pulled out of a junkyard bug recently. I'll try to remember to get a pic up for you.

As promised: (Oh, and sorry for the shitty pictures.)

Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:33 am

Thanks for the pic. Now I have seen the chrome straight shifter.

How do you like the straight shifter in your early car?

My count so far is that 7 versions of Hurst shifters exist.

Chrome straight Bug
Chrome curved Bug
Copper straight Bug
Copper curved Bug
Chrome Bus
Copper Bus
Satin silver curved tall Bug (RHD?)

Have I missed any? Has anyone got more literature on them?

Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:38 pm

The shifter is just the right length for me. It shifts nice, sits in a great position in all the gears, and just all around feels good. I haven't had a chance to use a curved Hurst however, so maybe I'd change my mind. Anyway, I like it better than the stock shifter. :P Now I gotta be on the lookout for a curved copper Hurst. :twisted:

I love this topic! :D

Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:05 pm

Thanks for pics, would swapping the cable fix the problem of shifting into reverse even without pulling up the lock? Are the only place to get parts from used ones?

Wilson
2.0 69'Square

Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:33 am

Wilson wrote: Thanks for pics, would swapping the cable fix the problem of shifting into reverse even without pulling up the lock? Are the only place to get parts from used ones?

I don't really understand your question. Obviously, you can't shift into reverse with a Hurst unless you pull up the trigger loop. Swapping the cable in a Hurst will not remedy a bad shift guide bushing, a bad shift rod coupler, or a busted cable guide tube in your tunnel. If your reverse problem is still evident even with a stock shifter that is properly adjusted, start looking elsewhere for problems.

Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:00 am

I am a die hard Hurst loyalist. I run Hurst shifters in all my VW's. I've had the shifter in my ragtop longer than an VW I've ever owned. It just keeps getting pulled and replaced with a crappy Empi repro every time I sella car. :)

Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:02 am

I have seen more chrome curved Hurst shifters than copper ones. But I have seen more copper straight shifters than chrome straight shifters. In fact, I have never seen a straight chrome shifter. (simon uk, got a pic?)

Sorry, I wiped my pics when I sold it to Sweden!

I found on my 66 that the straight shifter gets close to the ash tray in first and third. In addition, I am 6 foot 7, and had big (literally) problems getting third gear because my knee was in the way. A small diameter steering wheel would probably help, but I was using an EMPI VDM.

I tried it for a while, but then got a beaten up Hurst Indy shifter, gave it a polish and sorted the knob (it was glued on! so I re-tapped a thread using a heli-coil) and now it is sparkling.

What do you prefer, Hurst Trigger or Indy?

Si.

Wed Jul 27, 2005 10:55 pm

If you need to replace the rubber, or plastic boots, plate, or the knob, the Empi parts are interchangable, and are available seperately. It just depends if your shop will order the seperate pieces.

Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:49 pm

Zarana-X wrote: If you need to replace the rubber, or plastic boots, plate, or the knob, the Empi parts are interchangable, and are available seperately. It just depends if your shop will order the seperate pieces.

Thanks.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:50 am

I got my boot/base from L5VW.com, they advertise in the classifieds as well..